The products we feature are selected based on their utility for our audience. If purchases are made via links found on our page, we may receive a small percentage. Here is an explanation of our procedure. Medical News Today only promotes brands and products that we believe in. Roughly 85 million cats are included in American families and are often considered important family members. What makes cats so attractive to humans? Could it be due to their seemingly selective behavior? And what impact do they have on human health? These are the questions this special report explores.
The love that humans express for cats can be deep and passionate. For many, a cat serves as a reliable companion and offers comfort during periods of solitude. However, is such intimacy beneficial for one’s psychological or physical health? Experts in various fields, including geneticists, infectious disease specialists and psychologists, have proposed several theories explaining why cats have such a strong appeal to certain individuals and how they may affect their owners’ health.
Based on DNA studies, the predecessor of the present-day domestic cat was the African wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica, originating from the Fertile Crescent – where ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, and Persia intersected. Some research indicates that humans began relating with cats around 9,500 years ago, with the earliest signs of a mutual relationship between humans and cats discovered on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. Egyptians revered their feline companions, believing they possessed divine energy.
Dr. Eva-Maria Geigl, the research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the head of the Epigenomics and Paleogenomics group at the Institut Jacques Monod in Paris, spoke to Medical News Today, mentioning, “Cats were domesticated as commensals, approaching human settlements due to the abundance of food, particularly rodents that thrived on grain accumulations. This adaptation to a specific human environment proved evolutionarily advantageous for them. Humans also benefitted from having these cats around, especially due to their ability to control the rodents that damaged their cereals.”
One study identified at least 13 genes that indicated cats’ transition from being wild to domesticated. These genes are associated with cognition and behavior and might have enhanced cats’ capacity to learn from food incentives and reduce their fear of humans.
As per a study under Dr. Geigl’s investigation, it seems that cats followed Neolithic farmers from place to place. Their widespread distribution happened during the Classical period (1775-1825). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimate that the U.S. houses about 85 million cats. Moreover, there are around an additional 70 million stray and feral cats in the country.
Dr. Patricia Pendry from Washington State University specializes in human-animal interactions and has conducted research on the strong bond between highly emotional individuals and their cats. According to Dr. Pendry, the discerning behavior of cats seems to be irresistibly attractive to humans.
Cats might appear aloof and mysterious due to the unique yet subtle ways they communicate their feelings. While a cat’s face might seem intriguing or even grumpy, it is mostly fixed and expressionless, and their tails do not wag in excitement or joy like dogs. However, recent research indicates that cats share more common traits with eager-to-please dogs than previously thought.
There’s also the fact that living with a cat can offer health benefits, both physically and psychologically, assuming the person is not allergic to cats. For instance, a study from 2009 discovered that individuals who had owned a cat had a lower risk of dying from a heart attack compared to those who never owned one. Regarding mental health, a 2011 survey conducted by the UK feline welfare charity Cats Protection revealed that 93.7% of participants felt that cat ownership improved their mental health condition. Another study mentioned that living with multiple pets, including cats, could reduce a child’s risk of developing allergies.
Dr. Patricia Pendry suggests that cats “offer us company, alleviate our loneliness, provide comfort, fun, and play, offer affection, and give us special permission to stroke/pet them and keep them on our laps, which triggers oxytocin release, thus suppressing the production of cortisol, a stress hormone.” “As long as the affection we extend to them is welcome, they too derive similar comforts and a sense of belonging from us,” she added.
In conclusion, cats are adored for their grace, soothing purrs, and warm cuddles but did you know that they can also enhance your health? Animal therapy or pet therapy employs animals to aid individuals in coping with and recovering from various physical and mental health issues. Dogs are indeed a man’s best friend due to the physical and mental health benefits they provide. Some people may be allergic to animals, especially those with fur or feathers; however, most animal allergies come from cats and dogs. Pets not only bring us happiness and companionship but they also offer various health and well-being benefits.